2 Chicago Cops Die In Air Crash

Two Chicago police officers were killed Tuesday in Quebec Province, Canada, when a light plane in which they were passengers crashed, officials said.

Another man, presumed to be the pilot, also died in the crash in Schefferville, a town near the border of the Quebec and Labrador Provinces.

The dead police officers are Sgt. Edward P. Kearns, 54, a 30-year police veteran who worked in the Brighton Park Property Crimes Section, and Patrolman John J. Finnegan, 39, who worked in the personnel division at police headquarters, 1121 S. State St.

The American consulate said the crash occurred at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Chicago time.

Sgt. Robert Vetrovec of the 14th Police District said Kearns was an avid pilot and hunter and had served in the U.S. Air Force. ``This is the first time he flew up there for caribou. They had been saving for it for a long time,`` said Vetrovec.

Survivors of Kearns include his wife, Geraldine; and his 11-year-old son, Eddie Jr., Vetrovec said.